BONGAIGAON, Dec 9: As a part of population awareness programme, Gauhati Medical College associate Professor of Surgery and State trainer-cum-State NSV Nodal Officer, Government of Assam Dr Ilias Ali, who has been touring extensively addressing various public meetings held at various places in middle and lower Assam since January, 2009, visited another backward place –– Bongaigaon –– inhabited mostly by poor and illiterate people. Dr Ali went to Bongaigaon to create awareness among the people, which mostly consists of Muslim people, about population explosion and its side effects.
According to a press release, Dr Ali, while delivering his experiences and speeches in the camp, told the assembled masses about the NSV and its effective method to prevent population growth. The awareness meet was jointly organized by the Langtisinga mini PHC and the district health society, NRHM, Bongaigaon. The meeting was chaired by Bongaigaon Joint Director of Health Dr DK Gogoi.
Speaking on the occasion as the chief guest, Dr Ilias Ali said, “Today, our country is facing serious socioeconomic and environmental problem due to unabated growth of population. India is amidst an intense and serious crisis of resources. There is fierce competition for the nation’s limited natural resources leading to quarrel between States, between communities and even families. Our land and water resources are being exploited to the hilt. The exploration of the mineral resources is threatening our forest, natural reserves and ecology and overuse of resources is contributing to natural disasters occurring more frequently and with greater devastation.”
He further added: “Every citizen, policy maker, intellectual should realize that our country will not be in position to take on the burden of a huge population in the near future and without further delay they should come forward and join hands together to fight against the population explosion.”
Addressing specifically to the attending Muslim audiences, Dr Ali said: “Population growth in our (Muslim) society particularly among the inhabitant of Chapari and Sar areas is very alarming and the principal causes are illiteracy, child marriage, multiple marriage, religious misinformation regarding family planning.” Dr Ali being a devoted muslim cited various verses from the holy Quran and Hadith and said that Islam was not against family planning and welfare and urged the gathering to come forward and join hands with others to curb the rapidly expanding population of their community.
He further said: “NSV is a very simple and safe procedure of male sterilization without cuts and stitches and is gradually becoming popular in our State and since January to November 2009, nearly 9,800 people have accepted this procedure against only two in 2007-08. Our target of NSV has been fixed to be 10,000 during 2009-2010 and we are very much optimistic to achieve this prior to Magh Bihu, well ahead of a stipulated time.
As a part of this awareness programme an NSV camp was organized prior to the meeting at Langtisinga Mini PHC where 16 men underwent NSV operation successfully. Speaking on the occasion, a school teacher and renown social worker of the locality Hatem Ali praised the efforts of Dr Ali and the Bongaigaon district Health Department and urged the inhabitants to curb the alarming population growth using various methods of family planning.
Among the various dignitaries present in the meeting were Bongaigaon district Joint Director of Health Dr DK Gogoi, Additional CMO Dr B Deka and Additional CMO (Communicable Diseases) Dr Rajani Kanta Sarma, Dr Mahendra Saikia and Bongaigaon district NSV surgeon Dr A Baishya and other health officials along with local teachers. THE SENTINEL
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